Lions center Frank Ragnow suddenly retires from NFL at 29 in major blow
Frank Ragnow will not be running it back with the Lions in 2025 on the quest to avenge their early playoff exit.
On Monday afternoon, the All-Pro center announced his retirement from the NFL at 29 years old.
'These past couple of months have been very trying as I've come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I'm officially retiring from the NFL,' Ragnow wrote on Instagram. 'I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my families [sic] future. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't. I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can't emphasize this enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all.'
3 Lions' center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after seven years.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
The retirement comes as a blow to the Lions following their dominant 15-2 season that ended in surprising disappointment, losing to the Commanders in the divisional round.
The decision seemed to come from mostly health concerns and the four-time Pro Bowler has notably had several injury run-ins in the past, specifically with toe problems.
He missed 13 games in 2021 due to what he called 'the most severe degree of turf toe.' He later suffered a different injury to the same toe during the 2022 season, but managed to play through it.
3 Frank Ragnow #77 of the Detroit Lions and NFC arrives during practice prior to the Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium on February 1, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
Getty Images
3 Frank Ragnow #77 of the Detroit Lions points before a play during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on December 5, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.
Getty Images
In 2023, Ragnow realized the injury had grown to a point where surgery would not help and the toe would be something he would have to manage for the remainder of his career, he told the Detroit Free Press.
Ragnow only missed on game last season — a Week 4 matchup against the Seahawks with a partially torn pectoral muscle. He went on to not miss a start after that, playing 16 games and being named to the Pro Bowl for the third straight season.
He was selected by the Lions in the first round, No. 20 overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Arkansas and spent his entire seven-year career in Detroit.
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